Forest v Villa post-match

[Nunkin1965]

And today, the 6th, is the first anniversary of Villa 3 Man Utd 1. Unai's first game. Where we are a year later, and what we did for that year, is far beyond what anyone could realistically have hoped for. We aren't the finsished product yet but we are heading in the right direction. Some of the reaction to a first defeat for 2 months is a tad ott in my opinion.

Indeed and I don’t buy the argument this’ll define our season. I also suspect we’ll see a number of top teams struggle to win there.

Doesn’t mean it wasn’t a shoddy performance, but that does happen sometimes, we just need to react in the right way.

Yes the reaction needs to be swift and hopefully we'll see that in the next week.
Hugely unpopular I know but Forest deserve credit for stopping the form side in their tracks.

[PaulWinch again]

I do. As there's minimal margin for error with the quality in the top 5 or 6. If we're not putting to bed bottom 5 filth like Forest, lumbering against Wolves, then we have a problem.

Neither will come close to finishing bottom 5.

Edit: Infact it's in our interest for Forest and Wolves to keep up their good form as those are the sort of teams I think will take points off the likes of Spurs, Man. United and Newcastle which will be beneficial to us.

Much worse if we don't win at likes of Bournemouth, Everton and Fulham as season goes on. Those three will finish below Forest and Wolves.

They came 5th bottom last season and started the day there. They'll be very close to it again. Today was their 2nd home win since beating Sheffield United in August. They're a poor side and we ought to have found a way to win. Giving up points in games like that will make it harder to finish in the top 5.

3 out of the next 5 fixtures could show just how costly today's failure was.

They did finish bottom 5 but that’s largely down to their awful away form. They only last 5 at home last year, they’ve been a bit shaky this year but they’ve got some important players back now. We needed to be right at it, and we weren’t which is disappointing, but they are not an easy team to play at home generally.

[Clampy]

We dont have a god given right to win every game. Liverpool dropped points against a team we 'put to bed' last week. Every team will come a cropper at some point. It's gone, let's see how we bounce back, which under Umery tends to be very quickly.

[Monty]

We dont have a god given right to win every game. Liverpool dropped points against a team we 'put to bed' last week. Every team will come a cropper at some point. It's gone, let's see how we bounce back, which under Umery tends to be very quickly.

Indeed. If we keep losing, and in a similar manner to how we did yesterday, then we'll look back on this as indeed a rough turning point. If we bounce back, it'll be just one of those days.

God though, we could've been third this morning. That's a real kick to the guts to think about!

[TonyD]

Oh well can’t win them all. 

Trouble is it felt like we could. 😉

[Axl Rose]

We were lethargic and boring. Ineptitude gone wild.

I don't like any of our players today, but by this time next week, I'll be estatic with them.

I hope.

[The Edge]

I know it was late on and didn’t really matter but what was the reasoning in bringing Dendoncker on?

Possibly Emery giving a nudge to the owners.

[Clampy]

I know it was late on and didn’t really matter but what was the reasoning in bringing Dendoncker on?

Possibly Emery giving a nudge to the owners.

Why would he need to do that?

[Footy-Vill]

Martinez: Yes it was a goalie error. Otherwise, comfortable.

Cash - Poor game, blunders in defence for goals, possible injury as a result of inadequate defence. Was given the go-ahead to get forward and be high up the pitch with and without the ball with Kamara dropping in, but didn't appear to know how to take on defenders and was tentative. Put this down to a bad day, but Emery isn't convinced. And neither am I long term.

Konsa - Was one of the guys Forest wanted to have possession of the ball. Was the main fault for not moving the ball quickly enough at the back. The less creative centre back

Torres- best defensive player with excellent passing range. A classy  player. In the second half, Pau slid a delightful ball through for Digne. Oh my goodness, it was sublime. I adore him.

Digne - Just no . He is wasteful with crosses, doesn't make the most of his chances with the ball, and lacked imagination and ability.
Only in team due to Moreno injury and his days were numbered previously. To be fair he has embraced opportunity but this was a reminder how he doesn't suit Emerys football.

McGinn- He created a fantastic opportunity for Watkins. He demonstrated his tenacity and grit in the second half as he outplayed a couple players and drove the team on. He was the main man in showing not wanting to lose.
Super John McGinn takes some credit for me.

Kamara - Forest allowed Kamara have a lot of the ball and didn't engage him much in the first half. As Cash advanced, he'd find himself in a right back cover duty. However, he was mixed in playing this role, and I believe he and Cash were perplexed by it all. Far too slow on the ball like Konsa in passing. After being booked having forced to play right side defence, for Cash he too was replaced.
He's the least creative midfielder. Classy player but Forest knew to let him like Konsa have the ball

Luiz -The most frustrating game I felt for him you could see his frustration. He wasn't protected by the ref, and Forest had a plan not to allow him have the ball so much in any dangerous situation, thus it was with Kamara. Due to the bustling nature of Forest midfielders and the ball and space being offered to other Villa players rather than Douglas, his influencing was not there. The ball was not delivered to him quickly enough when there were chances too but Forest shackled him well and stopped it generally.
A true sign how he's seen as a main danger and Douglas is a class act will have to get use to these tactics and look to exert his authority and Emery will find a plan to make sure he's involved more and not have a game like this.

 Zaniolo- I'm still not convinced and hasn't done anything to change my view. I've mentioned that he's not suited to Emery football, and this was another evidence. I'd rather he didn't start games. Doesn't cover himself in glory for lack of effort in the goal conceded and doesn't seem to connect with Watkins in link up or make any moves to assist him. Tbf on one occasion, he made a lovely through ball to Digne and I don't deny he possesses ability, but he is not making himself available and moving without the ball. I simply don't see him being in the team on a permanent basis especially as attacking threat is beyond weak. Harsh but true.

Diaby- Difficult circumstances for Diaby, with limited spaces. Engineered a chance and forced a save, but defenders crowded him out. Class act who will deliver once again. Next time.

Watkins- Unfortunate with the headed chance and wasn't given quality service. Mainly due to any creating coming from abundance of poor crosses from Digne . Frustrating afternoon for him. Felt for him

Subs:
Bailey - Turned into some sort of target man for headed opportunities from Digne crossing.
Showed more attacking intent and ability than Zaniolo and tried to make a few things happen. Perhaps should have started

Tielemans- despite being a replacement had a great showing being a creator in chief and making several astute passes through the lines
Left me wondering should he have started or come on sooner ?
Exactly the sort of midfield play we needed against Forest.

Carlos and Dendocker also came on.
Solid if not spectacular. Impact negligible. Neutral to both on performance on the pitch.

[kippaxvilla2]

I know it was late on and didn’t really matter but what was the reasoning in bringing Dendoncker on?

Possibly Emery giving a nudge to the owners.

Why would he need to do that?

I believe he was bought on to get on the end of set pieces by that time we had run out of ideas.

[ChicagoLion]

I know it was late on and didn’t really matter but what was the reasoning in bringing Dendoncker on?

Possibly Emery giving a nudge to the owners.

more likely a nudge to Luiz who was poor.

[RamboandBruno]

Martinez: Yes it was a goalie error. Otherwise, comfortable.

Cash - Poor game, blunders in defence for goals, possible injury as a result of inadequate defence. Was given the go-ahead to get forward and be high up the pitch with and without the ball with Kamara dropping in, but didn't appear to know how to take on defenders and was tentative. Put this down to a bad day, but Emery isn't convinced. And neither am I long term.

Konsa - Was one of the guys Forest wanted to have possession of the ball. Was the main fault for not moving the ball quickly enough at the back. The less creative centre back

Torres- best defensive player with excellent passing range. A classy  player. In the second half, Pau slid a delightful ball through for Digne. Oh my goodness, it was sublime. I adore him.

Digne - Just no . He is wasteful with crosses, doesn't make the most of his chances with the ball, and lacked imagination and ability.
Only in team due to Moreno injury and his days were numbered previously. To be fair he has embraced opportunity but this was a reminder how he doesn't suit Emerys football.

McGinn- He created a fantastic opportunity for Watkins. He demonstrated his tenacity and grit in the second half as he outplayed a couple players and drove the team on. He was the main man in showing not wanting to lose.
Super John McGinn takes some credit for me.

Kamara - Forest allowed Kamara have a lot of the ball and didn't engage him much in the first half. As Cash advanced, he'd find himself in a right back cover duty. However, he was mixed in playing this role, and I believe he and Cash were perplexed by it all. Far too slow on the ball like Konsa in passing. After being booked having forced to play right side defence, for Cash he too was replaced.
He's the least creative midfielder. Classy player but Forest knew to let him like Konsa have the ball

Luiz -The most frustrating game I felt for him you could see his frustration. He wasn't protected by the ref, and Forest had a plan not to allow him have the ball so much in any dangerous situation, thus it was with Kamara. Due to the bustling nature of Forest midfielders and the ball and space being offered to other Villa players rather than Douglas, his influencing was not there. The ball was not delivered to him quickly enough when there were chances too but Forest shackled him well and stopped it generally.
A true sign how he's seen as a main danger and Douglas is a class act will have to get use to these tactics and look to exert his authority and Emery will find a plan to make sure he's involved more and not have a game like this.

 Zaniolo- I'm still not convinced and hasn't done anything to change my view. I've mentioned that he's not suited to Emery football, and this was another evidence. I'd rather he didn't start games. Doesn't cover himself in glory for lack of effort in the goal conceded and doesn't seem to connect with Watkins in link up or make any moves to assist him. Tbf on one occasion, he made a lovely through ball to Digne and I don't deny he possesses ability, but he is not making himself available and moving without the ball. I simply don't see him being in the team on a permanent basis especially as attacking threat is beyond weak. Harsh but true.

Diaby- Difficult circumstances for Diaby, with limited spaces. Engineered a chance and forced a save, but defenders crowded him out. Class act who will deliver once again. Next time.

Watkins- Unfortunate with the headed chance and wasn't given quality service. Mainly due to any creating coming from abundance of poor crosses from Digne . Frustrating afternoon for him. Felt for him

Subs:
Bailey - Turned into some sort of target man for headed opportunities from Digne crossing.
Showed more attacking intent and ability than Zaniolo and tried to make a few things happen. Perhaps should have started

Tielemans- despite being a replacement had a great showing being a creator in chief and making several astute passes through the lines
Left me wondering should he have started or come on sooner ?
Exactly the sort of midfield play we needed against Forest.

Carlos and Dendocker also came on.
Solid if not spectacular. Impact negligible. Neutral to both on performance on the pitch.

Largely agree with most of this

[Baldy]

And me

[ChicagoLion]

Pretty good assessment, I would add Watkins touch and hold up play poor.

[LeeB]

Pretty good assessment, I would add Watkins touch and hold up play poor.

In fairness to Watkins, the ref was letting the centre half practice his 'nightclub bouncing' on him.